Chronic Critical IllnessJamie McGuire BSN, RNMichelle Lozano BSN, RN

Objectives

• Define chronic critical illness (CCI).

• Identify clinical features of the CCI syndrome.

• Identify mortality rates associated with the CCI patient population.

• Identify the impact of CCI on the healthcare delivery system.

• Identify treatment challenges associated with CCI.

• Identify barriers to outpatient care of patients with CCI.

What is Chronic Critical Illness?

• Definition: A discrete and complex syndrome of physiologic abnormalities that includes dysfunction of multiple body systems, a prolonged indeterminate need for high cost acute interventions, and a high mortality rate

• The advancements of health care delivery as well as the technological influence within the ICU setting is contributing to a rise in the number of patients with Chronic Critical Illness (CCI)

(Donahoe, 2012)

What causes Chronic Critical Illness?

• Unknown, specific trigger(s), commonly seen with exacerbation of an underlying chronic illness

COPD

CRI

DM

CHF

CAD

PVD

Chronic Critical Illness

• Requires continued critical care environment for a extended period of time, usually >14 days

• High associated mortality rates• Frequent relapses to an unstable condition• Continued need for advanced medical and nursing care• Need for life sustaining medical care• High risk for disability, distress, and death

Syndrome of Chronic Critical Illness

(Nelson, Cox, Hope, & Carson, 2010)

Syndrome of Chronic Critical Illness

• Hallmark of CCI Syndrome is prolonged dependence of mechanical ventilation (>2 days – 4 weeks)

• Severe weakness and deconditioning

• Alterations in body composition • Impaired hormonal balances,

impaired anabolism• Decreased or impaired immune

response• High risk for multi-drug resistant

organisms

Syndrome of Chronic Critical Illness

• Chronic Respiratory Failure• Brain dysfunction• NM weakness• Endocrinopathies• Malnutrition• Skin breakdown• Sepsis• Symptom Distress• Decreased Functional Status

Chronic Respiratory Failure

• Prolonged mechanical ventilation• Tracheostomy placed (usually after ~7-

10 days of ET intubation)• Failure to wean at 60 days indicates that

the patient is unlikely to be weaned from ventilator

Brain Dysfunction

• One of the most common forms of organ failure in CCI

• Associated with increased M&M• Types: coma, delirium• Causes:• Ischemic or traumatic brain injury• Infection/sepsis, hypotension, hypoxemia, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, or azotemia•Medication side effects• Sedatives, Analgesics

• Long-term impairment common

Neuromuscular Weakness

• Poor Nutrition• Medications:• Neuromuscular blockades, sedation, corticosteroids?

• Inflammation:• Increases pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen

species, leading to muscle proteolysis and loss of muscle protein and mass

• Immobility:• Decreases muscle protein synthesis, increases muscle

catabolism, and decreases muscle mass, especially in lower extremities• Impairs microvascular function leading to insulin

resistance and neuromuscular injury• Causes muscles to switch from slow-twitch fibers to fast

twitch, decreasing endurance

Endocrinopathies

• Stress Hyperglycemia• Promotion of hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis• Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis• Increased circulating catecholamines • Increased circulating glucagon and growth hormone

• Iatrogenic • Decreased Insulin• Cytokines such as Interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis

factor-a

• Thyroid Dysfunction• Decreased T3, T4, free T4, and TSH in CCI• Drugs• Cytokines• Suppression of thyroid gland by HPA axis• Malnutrition• Transport alterations

Malnutrition

• Effects:• Neuromuscular

weakness• Increased infection• Increased risk for

multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)• Increased incidence

of stress ulcers

• Caused by:• Delays in starting enteral

nutrition• Inadequate calorie

estimates• Unnecessary holding of

enteral nutrition

• Albumin and Prealbumin not accurate in the acute phase of illness

• Evaluate recent weight loss and nutrient intake prior to illness, as well as comparison to IBW

Skin Breakdown

• Frequently occur within first 10 ICU days

• 40% of Patients• Causes:• Poor nutrition• Anasarca• Shearing forces• Moisture• Immobility• Decreased sensation• Obesity

Sepsis

• Multiple episodes• “Triple Threat” for

infection• Majority of

Infections• Line sepsis• Pneumonia• Staphylococcus

aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other gram negative bacilli

• Clostridium difficile colitis

Symptom Distress

• Defining feature of CCI • Depression • Delirium • Uncontrolled pain• Thirst• Dyspnea• Communication• Multiple interacting symptoms

Associated Mortality of CCI

• Most expire within six months

• Acute care: 20-49%• One-year mortality: 48-

68%• Fewer than 12% alive and

independent at 1 year • 75% of days spent in

institutional care or with extensive home care

• Survivors have variable quality of life

Associated Mortality: Factors

• Age• Residual organ failure• Prior functional status• Initiating illness• Complications (Sepsis)• Transfer from acute

care??

Impact on Healthcare

• 100,000 CCI patients in the US at any point in time

• Consume disproportionate number of ICU resources

• $20 billion each year OR 13% of all healthcare cost in US

• Numbers grow with increasing number of adults >65 receiving advanced, life-saving treatment

• Hospital readmission in first year ~40%• Ongoing care after discharge• Family burden increases costs• Cost/benefit high

Impact on Healthcare

• Focus on post-acute care• Decrease Medicare loss to hospital• Bed management issues

• Decrease Ineffective care

• Reduce readmission rates from LTAC, SNF• Criteria to stay is limited

Treatment Challenges

• Communication •With the patient•With the family of a patient with CCI• Among staff

Treatment Challenges

• Ineffective Care• Caregiver burnout• Ethics• Research challenges

Comprehensive Care Model (Nelson et al., 2010)

Comprehensive Care- Ventilator Liberation

• Ventilator Liberation• Discharged alive and breathing without assistance• 16-37 days• Affects placement and reimbursement• Does not ensure long term survival, but is independent indicator

• Protocol-driven therapy• RSBI < 80-100• SBTs• Daily attempts

• Multidisciplinary approach

• Manage pt. symptoms

Comprehensive Care - Function• Optimize Physical Function• Early PT/OT/ST

• Optimize Cognitive Function• Prompt Evaluation of changes in mental status• Evaluate risks for delirium• Limit Sedation Use• Benzodiazepines

• Cognitive rehab • Orientation• Sleep cycle management• Sensory aides• Early PT/OT

Comprehensive Care - Nutrition• Enteral nutrition (EN) is the recommended route• Decreased Infection, M&M, cost, length of stay, and

increased cognitive function• START EARLY within first 24-48 hours to goal within 48-72

hours• Consider• HOB at 30-45 degrees• Motility agent• Continuous post-pyloric feeds• G-tube, J-tube placement• Oral hygiene

• Initiation• Nutritional status• Comorbid conditions• Function of the GI tract

Comprehensive Care - Nutrition

• Parenteral Nutrition• Delay EN feeding when patient has a MAP of <60mmHg, during high dose presser use, and with s/s of intolerance or ischemia• Only after 7days• Increased infection, malnutrition, and M&M• Continue to periodically attempt EN when appropriate

• Considerations• Treat stress hyperglycemia• Calcitrol, Vitamin D, zinc biphosphonate therapy• Follow-up

Comprehensive Care – Infection/Complication Prevention

• HANDWASHING• Skin Integrity• Catheter management• Isolation• Nutrition• Bronchial hygiene• Sterile Water• Clorahexadine baths• Single use items• Wexaside/Bleach wipes

Comprehensive Care – Palliative Care

• Communication about care goals• Maintain consistence

with patient desires• Slow, incremental

approach to family • Let the family speak,

and acknowledge emotions

• Interdisciplinary involvement• Documentation!!!

• Treat symptom distress• Depression: SSRIs,

methylphenidate, behavioral health c/s• Pain: opioids, alternative

therapies• Thirst• Delirium• Dyspnea: low dose opioids,

fans, alternative therapies• Communication issues:

Speaking valve, alphabet board, communication board

Comprehensive Care – Palliative Care

• Limitation of Life Support• Ensure family that patient will

not be abandoned• Be supportive of decision • Communicate decision with all

staff• Clarify odds of survival and or

independent living• Provide printed information• http://www.myicucare.org/Adult-

Support/Pages/Chronic-Critical-Illness.aspx

• Make family aware of PTSD, depression, and physical health issues that they are at risk for

Barriers to Outpatient Care

• Determining placement• Medicare reimbursement shapes care• Appropriate staffing for acuity• Continuity of care

Local AvailabilitySNFs• Kensington in Middletown- Vent only  

Looking to do vent dialysis

• Batavia- Cincinnati- Vent/ dialysis

• Baton Rouge- Lima  Vent only

• East Galbraith- Cincinnati  Vent/ dialysis

• Regency Manor- Columbus  vent /dialysis

• Pinnacle Point-  Vent

•  Essex of Springfield  vent only

•  Parkside Manor Fairfield Ohio  vent only

• Canal   Point  in Cleveland  vent only

LTACs• Lifecare Hospitals of

Dayton

• Kindred

• Drake Hospitals of Cincinnati

Rehabilitation Vent/Dialysis

• Dayton Rehabilitation Center

Question 1

1. Which of the following is considered the hallmark of chronic critical illness?

a) Acute Respiratory Failure < 48 hoursb) Acute Respiratory Failure > 48 hoursc) Brain Dysfunctiond) Acute Kidney Insufficiency 2’ ATN with Acute

Hemodialysis

Question 2• 2. Which of the following is a reliable test of

thyroid function in the critically ill patient?

a) T4b) Free T4c) T3d) TSHe) None of the above

Question 3• Which of the following drugs is associated with

increased incidence of delirium in CCI patients?

a) Propofolb) Midazolamc) Fentanyld) Haldol

Question 4• Factors associated with increased M&M in CCI

include all of the following EXCEPT

a) Ageb) Racec) Prior Conditionsd) Prior Functionalitye) Initial Insult

Question 5• A patient of yours in the ICU on prolonged

ventilation is A & O x3 and responds several times that he does not wish to have heroic efforts such as CPR and defibrillation performed on him in the event that he should require such care. The patient codes the next day and you do not perform CPR. This is an example of:

a) Beneficenceb) Nonmaleficencec) Autonomyd) Veracitye) Lazy nurses

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